Okay, So Maybe I Splurged A LITTLE...

Before I was pregnant, if I knew I had to wear a bikini all weekend, there is NO way I would be eating sodium, processed foods, anything not home cooked, or heaven forbid anything fried. Now, the only reason I don't eat those things is for Charlie, which means as long as I have it in moderation I can indulge without worry because it has NO effect on this bikini line.

Here's what I 'indulged on' this weekend:

Watermelon Cake, Blackened Fish Sandwich, Hush Puppies, BBQ Pork Nachos, Gelato, and then the in laws came in town and whipped us up a pancake breakfast to top it all off. Have you ever had watermelon flavored cake? Let me tell you, I wasn't all about it when I saw chocolate chips on top, but you can't judge a book by it's cover. Watermelon and chocolate now go HAND IN HAND in my mind, and I want more in my life asap. Luckily, my friend Karie is our resident baker, so I will be requesting it. I think Will is getting tired of hearing about it, but too bad, so sad. Watermelon, watermelon, WATERMELON CAKE!

We had actually cancelled plans this weekend trying to take it easy, but once again we reminded ourselves that we must seize the day, er...weekend. We all hopped in the truck and down to Destin we went. We ignored weather and Riptide warnings to soak up our last time at the beach before my doctor said I can't travel. I actually thought it was a terrible idea for Memorial Day Weekend what with traffic and whatnot, but boy was I wrong. It was pure perfection and just what we all needed. Bye bye beach...I'll miss you for awhile!

Hope you all had a great Memorial Day! Remember- all gave some, and some gave all.

This. Weekend. Was. Perfect.

Will got off early and we made it to PCB in time to check in, soak in the beautiful condo, and get ready for the maternity pics. I might have struggled with the new falsies I tried to put on and spent a little too much time on my hair, but all that matters is we still had to wait on the lighting to cooperate negating my lateness. Sadly, I don't have any pictures from the shoot because we really maximized our two hours of sunlight with tons of poses, three outfit changes (I seriously hope no one looked close as I straight up changed on the beach while Will tried to hold a towel), and the 500+ pictures we did manage to take.  The wind was TERRIBLE, so let's also hope she got some where you can see my face in spite of the wind whipping it around. Hence why my hair had no curl by the time we went to dinner:

But yeah...the real fun was Saturday when we hit the beach! 

Carrie drove down to enjoy the fun in the sun with us and it couldn't have turned out to be a better day. We laid out, I took them to a few of my favorite spots: Pompano Joe's for lunch, Hook'd Up for beverages, Kilwin's for ice cream, and even got some pool time in back at the condo before we finally called it a day.

I envisioned brunch, shopping, and another day of fun on Sunday, but let's be real...we couldn't hang that much in one weekend if we tried. Instead, I woke up to flowers, a delicious breakfast, and we spent the rest of the day watching Disney movies, napping, grilling wings, and calling all the maternal influences in our lives to send them our love.

It's weird to think that this could have been the last time we catch some zzz's on the couch as just a couple. I thought for sure we wouldn't fit or that I would be too uncomfortable in my state to sleep, but I think that was the most comfortable I have been in months; snuggled up and wrapped in his arms. Pretty soon it will be Charlie snuggling on the couch with him, and I guess that's okay too ;) She just better recognize he's mine first! Teehee

A 5K At Six Months Pregger

Traveling with a group of people is usually more of a hassle than it's worth when everyone has their own agenda, but we have the BEST travel group ever. Well...mainly because they let me plan the whole weekend and trust me to make decisions based on everyone's needs. I try to find the most efficient accommodations, I take into consideration dietary needs/wants {vegetarians and picky eaters}, I plan for the night owls and us ol' fogies, and I even schedule nap time, because no matter what age...we ALL need nap time.

Blue La Rua did not disappoint:

I knew this weekend was going to be extra great because Pensacola is fabulous in a shabby chic kind of way, and the McGuire's run is one of the most fun runs you could ever partake in. Even B-Ray who HATES physical activity said he loved it and wants to do more stuff like this, and that was before they started passing out the free booze too!

We all ran with amazing times ranging from Will at 22 minutes, me 27:36, and the slowest still in the low 30's. Yep, that's right- I ran under 28 minutes at six months pregnant. {Insert self high five} But to be honest, the after party is when the real fun starts, so we switched into our #Inappropes hats and shirts and commenced the party. I think I recognized a lot more people this year, because I was sober enough to recognize them. Always a plus side.

But as you can imagine...the highlight of a pregnant gal's vacation would most definitely be the all-you-can-eat BRUNCH buffet. We went to our fave Brunch spot on the beach, H20 Grill, and I got my moneys worth off that buffet for the first time ever. You can see pure joy in my face:

What can I say...We keep it classy ;) Everyone else drank their moneys worth, so it's win/win really. Did I mention we all piled in one vehicle for the trip in spite of the tight squeeze just so I could drive these fools back to Enterprise? Safety first.

I just hope we get lots of beach time this season. Who knows where we will be next and we most certainly won't have our gang anymore, so we are ready to live at the beach. I even bought a few new {much larger} tops to accommodate my bodily changes, and I plan to slather on lots of sunscreen to protect le baby. Bring it on, summer. Bring it on.

When Valentine's Meets Mardi Gras

I was a happy pregger after Will setup a firepit, cooked cedar plank salmon and wings, and roasted me s'mores, so when he told me Valentine's was going to continue into Fat Tuesday I was over the moon about it. Being as my mom is from Louisiana,  Mardi Gras holds a big place in my heart and I love that we are in the South to celebrate it. People celebrated in Colorado while we were there, but it just ain't the same, y'all ;)

Since we had our appointment on Tuesday, he planned for us to stay on the Bay in Fairhope Monday night. We stayed at Emma's Bay House, which I can't say enough good things about and even got to attend the annual Fairhope parade in their quaint little downtown area. We walked the bay, explored the B&B, we he had drinks at McSharry's Pub, dined on Italian at Pinzone's, and Will caught me Moon Pies at the parade! Let's be honest...that's all I wanted, so everything else was a super duper bonus.

As you know, the appointment went well, so then it was time to get our Fat Tuesday celebration on! He even chose the Berney Fly on Government St. as our second B&B because it was close enough for us to walk to the parade route. It's so adorable that he thinks of everything ;) Technically, we didn't actually witness the parade after realizing the unruly crowd was a bit much for me in this condition, but we did have a bangin' dinner on Dauphin Street and I got a WHOLE King Cake to mySELF. Okay, okay, I took most of it home, but it was aaaall mine! I also found the baby in the first bite, so I take it as good luck.

Will definitely over did it on planning all this and I definitely gave a few side eyes at him, but I was so thankful that he wanted us to have such a special trip 'before baby'. It was THE perfect way to take the pressure off from the impending appointment, celebrate the crazyiness life has thrown at us, and truly enjoy each other's company while making memories of two before we are three. No matter what, he's my everything, and CQB is a glorious extension of that.

For everyone that said "Ew" when we said we were moving to Alabama...eat your hearts out ;) You just don't know what you are missing out on here.

My Pet Goats

It was wishful thinking when I mentioned we were going to the beach for Thanksgiving. Yes, we were technically in a beach community, but it was Novemburr and cold which kept us hanging with the livestock on the in-laws farm. I use that term loosely because it's mostly goats, chickens, turkeys, and some exotic birds, however we were tromping around the mud and hay in our wellies, which totally counts as farm life to me.

What I didn't know was all their goats were preggers, and two were born Thanksgiving morning! Baby anything is cute, but baby goats are a whole 'notha level. I was NOT joking when I said if they stayed these little, I'd want one. Matter of fact, I think I want to keep goats when we eventually settle down. Maybe I'll start making Goat Milk products or something.

Other than that, we went to the Orlando Auto Show, , took Momma for her first Sweet Tomatoes experience, dined on Venison, and sang by the bonfire. Actually, the dude singing was from season two of The Voice, but I didn't catch his name or picture. #bloggerfail.

On the way home, we stopped at one of my favorite places in the whole wide world! We passed through St. Augustine, so I begged Will to take me to The Conch House. They are off the beaten path, have amazing food, and you just can't beat the view. You can sit in private elevated gazebos, and it's like eating in a tree house. so fun!

All in all, it was an amazing Thanksgiving, and made me realize how much I have to be thankful for. It sounds cheesy, but it's true...every day is a blessing. Even the bad ones make the good seem that much richer. I don't want to hear that on a bad day, but it doesn't make it less true. Seasons Greetings!

My Travel 'LUST' List

If I made a Travel Bucket List of every location my heart desires, it would be about 10,000 items long, but that wouldn't do for a blog post. Instead, I'll take a cue from Helene and I'll just share my Lust List a.k.a. the places that I won't feel complete until I've visited.

Mykonos Greece || There is just something so seductive about the Grecian coastlines, their lust for life culture, and the food? Don't even get me started on how much I LOVE Greek cuisine. I just want to eat some Spanakopita, drink some Ouzo wine, and dance on some tables.

Italy || Has always been intriguing, but after visiting Napa I knew I was going to have to graduate to visiting the Italian wine country.  The desire grew even more now that we have a few friends living there. This is why we planned to go for Christmas this year, but the Army has us on lock down, so I'm not sure if they will allow us to go during Flight school :(

Either way, it WILL happen sooner or later, and I've mapped out my ideal route. We can start out in Venice visiting mi amica Adair in Venice, then Vicenza to catch up with il nostro amico Jon who is stationed there, and then I'd love to bounce all the way down to Venice. It's only 1,078 km, which is nothing when you talk about breaking it up as a train or road trip. Our last road trip was double that. Ti amo, Italia!

Ireland || I've been to Scotland, and while it was amazing in it's own right...Ireland is where it's at. Holly Cross Abbey, Blarney Castle, Dublin, and more specifically the Guinness Storehouse are just a few of the reasons why Ireland is a must.

Thailand || A few years ago, I had a friend go teach over in Thailand, and I fell in love with the paradise portrayed in her photos. To explore the culture, nature, and lay out on those gorgeous beaches while eating Thai food would just put me over the edge. White girl mode...I can't even.

Morocco/Egypt || I've been entranced by Morocco and {mostly} Moroccan food for a few years as well. I'm a little scared to go there at the moment, but some day we will visit both Morocco and Egypt. I want some authentic Moroccan cuisine, dance in the streets of Casablanca, and ride a camel with the pyramids in the back ground.

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Australia || I actually don't really know what draws me to Australia, but it just seems fun. Everyone I've met from there is a cool cat, and it seems full of adventure.

England || When we went to Europe, I was so sad that we were so close to England, but didn't have time to go there. I even have family there, and yet I haven't checked out Big Ben, ventured to Stonehenge, or frolicked in the land of Chaucer and Shakespeare.

Paris, France || Eiffel Tower...City of love...'nuff said.

Port Elizabeth, South Africa || My best friend Dani happens to be from P.E. You can see her down there chillaxin' with an elephant on a safari, and if that doesn't make you want to visit, then I don't know what will. Her dad owns hotels and and a few businesses down there, so he'll show us a good time, as per usual.

My whole family loves to travel, but there are two people that have really influenced my love to travel: Dani and Papa. Dani and I have the type of relationship where one of us says "Let's go to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, The Bahamas, Mexico...etc.", and the other says "When and where, I'll be there." It makes for mucho excitement. Papa, my {very young} grandfather might be an even better travel partner because he foots the bill *winkwink.

In all seriousness, it's Papa's birthday, so I wanted to dedicate today to him. Isn't he a handsome devil? He has been there for us in spite of anything thrown at him, and he has truly unconditional love. I don't have a single bad memory of him because he always keeps his cool, and if he does slightly lose it...that person brought it on themselves. Thank you, Papa, for being a great example for us all and putting up with Tata. {I say that out of love, because my beautiful grandma is a handful.} Hope you have a wonderful birthday, and know that I miss you terribly! Hope to see you soon, because it's been far too long. Love you!

On The Shores Of Panama...

Thanks for voting! It was 50/50 on the votes for the Six Word Short story, but that's okay. Homeboy did use a semicolon like a boss, but since mine was actually an original idea, I still feel better. As for the sandwiches, you ALL voted correctly! #2 and #3 were BOTH my creations, and way better than that boring old Portobello. I mean, Italian dressing makes a great marinade, but where is the creativity in that? I swear that contest was rigged.

In case you are tracking my wrist situation, it's Tendonitis, so now I'm rocking a sweet brace. At least I didn't have to wear it on vacation, because it totally would have clashed with the sand and sun. No wrist pain was going to get in my way of this...

We were supposed to have 7-8 people, so we got the biggest condo at the Shores Of Panama Resort. Come the week of, we were down to five which meant we had three rooms, three bathrooms, and a HUGE condo all to ourselves. No one was complaining.

Gulf Coast Jam was our reason for going and while we loved Carrie Underwood, Big & Rich, Dierks Bentley, and Blake Shelton, we most definitely spent more time in the condo and at the beach than anything. People kept telling us it was going to rain, but it was PERFECT all weekend, so how can you not soak it all in? Mimosas, anyone?

Yes, we planned to dress alike. They boys have their bromance <see below>, and we have our...er...womance. There was another term I could have used, but the one I looked up is way better, haha. We got those shirts last time we were in PCB and they say "Unsinkable". The boys were away in training, so it signifies our support of them and how we can never be defeated when it comes to taking care of them! Plus I bartered and we got'em cheap.

The food was amazing, as always, but we tried new places this round. The goal: Eat as much fresh seafood as possible. Mission accomplished! Pineapple Willy's was our favorite lunch spot, Saltwater Grill was our big kid dinner, and Liza's Kitchen was one of the BEST brunches in town. We also went to the All American Diner, but you gotta be drunk for that.

Full of mimosas, we decided to visit Race City to let our inner children out. We played in the arcade, batting cages, and had a blast on the double decker go kart track without any major injuries. We may have had one person do the walk of shame when they got kicked off the ride, but my husband was on his best behavior! For once...

Then it was back to the beach. One of the best parts of the whole weekend, was when I found out my best friend from Elementary school was also in town for the weekend. I haven't seen Jess in fifteen years, and it was crazy to get to run and jump on her! She hasn't changed, I haven't changed, and we picked up right where we left off. Will said she was kind of shy, but I assured him she wasn't. She's just very chill and go with the flow. I love that that hasn't changed about her, and it reminds me of my roots.

Between the festival, out of this world seafood, booze, and the biggest condo I've ever stayed in, I think this may have been the most expensive 48 hours of my life. Too bad I don't regret it one bit. You just can't put a price tag on making such amazing memories, connecting with old friends, and getting to spend quality time relaxing with my hunny.